Mechanism for rolling switch-points.



W. D. EYNON.

MECHANISM FOR ROLLING SWITGH POIHTS. v

APPLIOATION I'ILIID NOV. 30, 1908.

Patented Oct. 12,1909;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- -W. D. EYNON.

MECHANISM FOR ROLLING SWITCH POINTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. so, 1908.

936,436, I Patented70ct.12,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 41 i. 1 v flmHllHWlH WWWWWWi tqxhhmozjf%'i a wtoz' v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. EYNON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JAMES J. FISHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ONE-FOURTH TO PEL- HAM HARDING, OF NABBERTH, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-FOURTH TO DAVID LLOYD EYNON, OF PA'IERSON, NEW JERSEY. I

MECHANISM FOR ROLLING SWITCH-POINTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1%)09.

Continuation of application Serial No. 323,021, filed June 23, 1906. This application filed November 30, 1908. Serial No. 465,120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM D. EYNON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Iennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Mechanism for Rolling Switch-Points, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism for rolling metal forms and the like and more particularly to the rolling of switch points from T-rail or like sections, as shown in my Patent No. 924:,329, issued June 8, 1909, of which this application is a continuation.

In rolling mechanism, as heretofore designed, it has been found that helical rolls were best adapted for the rolling of tapered articles but when considered in connection with the working of switch points, the length of the rail required such a pitch to the rolls and the flanges were so large that it was inipract-ical to use the same, owing to the cost and the large increase in power necessary to drive the rolls. Furthermore, by the use of helical rolls it was necessary to work the head and flange of the rail entirely by compression and owing to the small point of support, the great pressure required tended to shear the rail at the point where the flange and ail joined the web.

In my present invention I have devised a mechanism adapted for use in rolls of the present day construction and rolls which are in every day use and I have made this possible by devising a work table adapted to receive the metal to be rolled and so cooperate with the resisting roll as to distribute the pressure of the compression roll and therefore obtain a drawing of the metal on one side only, thus allowing it to be worked to the required shape without subjecting any weak portions of the material to a stress which would cause a fracture. Furthermore, by my novel construction of the rolls I am enabled to roll a complete switch point without the formation of burs or fins due in ordinary practice to the spreading of the metal through side drawing while traversing the passes.

For the purpose of illustrating my I11V811 tion, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at presstood that the various instrun'ientalitics of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents in front elevation, a plurality of rolls and cooperating adjuncts, embodying my invention relating to rolling of switch points. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same on a somewhat reduced scale, showing a portion of the operating table in section. Fig. 3 represents a detail side elevation of a pair of rolls, showing more particularly the last pass and table cooperating therewith. Fig. i repre sents a plan of a portion of the table, for forming a completed switch point. Fig. 5 represents a section on line ;rm, Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 represents a section on line y 1 Fig. at. Fig. 7 represents a side elevation of the completed switch point. Fig. 8 represents a plan of the same. Fig. 9 represents a bottom plan of the same showing the cut away portion for engagement with an adj acent roll base. Fig. 10 represents a section on line mm, Fig. 7. Fig. 11 represents a section of a switch point on line 'n,n Fig. 7.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings:1 designates a base, having supported thereon standards 2 and 3 serving as journal supports for the shafts 4 and 5, carrying respectively my novel rolling mechanism. In the present instance eachof the standards 2 and 3 is provided with a recess 6 adapted to support suitable bearing blocks 7 and 8, in which the shafts I and 5 are respectively journaled, the upper bearing blocks 8 being preferably mounted for sliding movement in order to vary, as desired, the distance between the two shafts 4 and 5 and consequently the compressive action between the rolls carried thereby. As here shown, the bearing blocks 8 are each secured to a screw 9 which passes through a threaded aperture in the end of the standards 2 and 3 and maintained in correct position. by means of set nuts 10.

The shafts 4 and 5 are suitably connected by gears 4 and 5, whereby rotation of the shafts 4 and 5 and their adjuncts is effected in opposite directions. The shaft 4 carries thereon a roll 11., hereinafter referred to as the compression roll, which consists in the present instance of a plurality of circumferential grooves 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, each forming a roll for working the metal to produce a step in the formation of a switch point. The shaft 5 carries thereon a roll 17 hereinafter referred to as a resisting roll, the surface of which is divided by a number of circumferential grooves 18, 19, 20, 2t and 22, each forming a. roll corresponding in number to the rolls of the compression roll 11 and located in substantial alinement with the same, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

It. will be noted that the contour of the grooves 18 and 19 is such as to conform to and cooperate with the bottom and sides of a work table 23 and each having two surfaces formed at different angular inclination with respect to the axis :3 of the roll 17, whereby the table 23, as it traverses the two passes, successively receives a different position. The contour of the grooves 20 and 21 is substantially similar to each other and conforms to the bottom and sidesot' a different work table 24 with which they are adapted to cooperate, the groove 21 having greater circumferential diameter than the groove 20, thereby working the metal carried by the table toa greater degree than that traversed by the table in the pass formed by grooves 14 and 20. The contour of the groove 22 is likewise shaped to the outline of a work table 25 and acts to support the same in its correct position relative to the compression roll 16 of the groove 11. It will thus be apparent that a series of openings are formed extending the length of the rolls 11 and 17 and through which the metal to be worked is passed on a table by a series of successive steps. Attention is called to the openings formed by the grooves 12 and 18. 13 and 19, in both of which the compression grooves 12 and 13 have a cut away portion 26, whereby a segmentary roll is formed in order that the full compressive effect may not be exerted upon the material in the initial stages of working.

It is well known in rolling mill practice that it is necessary to carefully bring the metal down to the desired size and form through a series of stages running from a minimum pressure producing a five to ten per cent. working of the thickness of the metal to a maximum of twenty-five to thirty per cent. of the thickness of the metal in the final stages, producing the required thickness of the finished article. Of course the rolls are so designed as to produce the most efficient working of the metal without causing a crushing or breaking down of the molecular section of the material. Adjacent one side of the two rolls 11 and 17 and in the present instance extending substantially in alinement with the passes receiving the table 28, are a pair of stops 27 and 28, respectively, one of which, 27, is preferably located at a point nearer the rolls than the other stop 28 for the purpose of limiting the first stage of working the metal. Adjacent the end of the rolls 11 and 17 where the final rolling is accomplished, a roll 29 is mounted in any suitable manner. for rotation and so placed as to bring the periphery thereof in contact with the joint formed between one of the rolls, here shown as 11, and the table It will be apparent that any material traversing this opening on the table 25 will thus receive a lateral working in combination with the usual vertical acting compressive force. It will be noted that on the compres ion roll 11 flanges 30, 31 and 32 are provided. which in the present instance extend a distance from the shaft 4 sufficient to bring them beyond the edge of the pass table and thereby completely inclose the metal being worked upon. On the lower resisting roll 17 similar flanges 32-3 and 34 are formed and extend also in a manner to inclose the work and pass table. The function of these flanges is to prevent finning of the article during its travel through the rolls, since in each case the angular sides of the flange tend to work the-metal laterally under a vertical pressure, and thereby overcome the tendency to form a bur or fin. Furthermore. this inclosing of the table and the material between the flanges of the work ing rolls guards against lateral drawing and permits only lengthwise drawing, as desired. The table 23, which cooperates with the first pair of rolls, is provided with a. working surface so shaped as to receive a T-rail blank, one side of which is to be shaped by the grooves 12 and 13, preparatory to traversing the two openings formed by the grooves 14 and 20, 15 and 21. In these latter passes the contour of the table surface is so changed as to vary the rolling of the rail from a T-rail section to a substantially L-shaped section, whereby it is possible to roll out the completed point.

25 designates the finishing table, whereon the material is placed to roll out a switch point as a completed structure. This table 25, which forms an important feature of my invention in rolling switch points, consists of a strip of suitable material having a base 35. provided with a top or bed portion formed of a surface 36, corresponding to the flange of a T-rail, a groove 37 corresponding to the head of the rail and a second groove 38 forming, with an extension 39 of the table, the base portion of the rail. This bed outline is well illustrated in Fig. (3 and extends from the section g -g to the opposite end of the table, notherein disclosed. From the section on line 1 -g to the section on line zit-a", the bed of the table 25 changes somewhat in its configuration in order to produce the proper shape to the switch point during the working thereof. The change in the bed of the table 25 will best be seen by compar ingthe same with the Figs. 7, 8 and 9, in which it will be noted that the head tO of the rail 41 tapers downwardly from the section NN toward the switch point MM, for the purpose of bringing the point of the switch sufficiently below an adjacent rail head as to prevent a car wheel contacting with the same. In order to produce this tapering of the head it will be noted that the said extension 39 tapers slightly in width as it approaches the end 5L2 of the table 25, whereby a taper corresponding to that of the rail is produced. It will of course be appar ent therefore that as this table traverses the opening formed by the grooves 16 and 22 that the lateral roll 29 will contact with the head 10 of the rail and roll the same parallel to the base of the rail until the tapered portion of the table is reached near the end 42. At this point the head is of course brought closer to the roll and a larger quantity of metal is consequently worked, which results in the necessary incline being given to the head of a switch point.

43 designates a out under portion of the switch point to allow overlapping of the point with the base of an adjacent rail, whereby the flanges of the rail and point are brought substantially flush. This out under portion is taken care of on the bed of the table 25 by providing a tapered projection H on one side of the extension 39 near the end 42, the same having substantially the same length of taper as the previously described taper for the head. In the working of this portion of the switch point the cooperation be- .tween the rolls and the table is the same as for the formation of the inclined head and the results accomplished are as before stated. From Fig. 8 it will be seen that a taper 45 is formed on the base of the rail as it nears the point, provision for which is made by tapering the table from the bottom of the groove to the complete taper, as illustrated. It will also be noted that the T-head groove 37 does not appear in the section taken at m If for the reason that it necessary to off set slightly the construction of the head, which is done by forming still another taper on the table effecting the gradual lessening of the depth of the groove 37.

In the operation of rolling the switch point, a T-rail or the like is placed upon the table 23 and passed through a segment of the groove 12 until it strikes the stop 27, whereupon the rotation of the compression roll brings it into engagement with the upper surface of the positioned rail and carries the same outwardly between the two rolls working the metal for a certain portion of its length as a preliminary step in the series. The rail and the table are then inserted for the second pass through the grooves 18 and 19, which cause a somewhat different angular inclination to the table, due to the shape of the lower roll, and since this segment is larger than the previous segment, the metal receives another preliminary working and shapes it for the succeeding passes. The table 24 now comes into operation and receives the preliminarily worked metal and carries it through the two passes formed by the grooves 14 and 20, 15 and 21, in each of which it receives a similar working and is brought down to a shape approximately that of the finished switch point. The use of the moving table in combination with the material carried thereon effects a very new and novel working of the metal during its travel through the passes, that is to say if the rail were rolled in the ordinary process, the reacting force of the resisting roll to the compressive effect of the upper roll results in a working of the metal on both sides, and in the case of a T-rail shearing at the flange of the rail, while it has been discovered thatby the introduction of a moving table, the reaction of the resisting roll is spread over a considerable surface and therefore does not effect one side of the material appreciably, while the other side, that is the one next to the compression roll, is drawn lengthwise and worked in the desired manner. This moving table forms, with the rolls, one of the features of my invention and makes possible the rolling of a completed switch point, the finishing step in the last pass being an important one in View of the novel construction of the table. In this last step the rolling of the rail produces no material change in the thickness of the flange, since the bed 36 of the table is at all points substantially in the same horizontal plane, while the tapered portion of the table forming the head causes the rail head to taper off to a point and through the projecting portion 4 1 of the table produces the off set necessary to bring the switch point, when in use, in proxnnit'y to an adjoining rail. The tapered bottom portion of the table reduces the end of the point for the purpose of leaving the finished switch a slight distance below the top of an adjacent rail, in order to avoid contact with the wheel of a train.

It will now be obvious that I have devised a new apparatus for rolling metal forms and more particularly switch points from a T-rail, the fundamental, underlying principle of which consists of passing in a succession of steps, a work table adapted to support material to be rolled, preferably T- rails, which in traversing the rolls of a rolling machine produces a drawing and working of the metal on one side only and in each step bringing the metal to a desired shape and thickness.

In so far as I am aware I am the first in the art to devise a work table capable of accompanying the metal through a pass or a series of passes, wherein the table is provided with a plurality of tapered portions which cooperate with the compression members to give a predetermined shape or drawing to the material worked upon.

Of course it will be understood that I do not limit myself to any specific number of passes,- as the varying rail weights require different working in the rolls and while I have disclosed five passes as showing the preferred form, a heavier rail would probably necessitate a larger number of passes, while a lighter, a correspondingly less number.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for rolling switch points from T-rails, a compression roll having a circular cross section through the working section, a lower supporting roll of similar cross section through the supporting section, and a table having a working portion which cooperates with the working section of the compression roll, said working portion tapering longitudinally in respect to the supporting portion of the table, which latter is adapted to cooperate with the supporting roll.

2. In a device for rolling switch points from T-rails, a pair of rolls oppositely disposed, one of which has a face circular in cross section through the working section, the other of which has a supporting face of similar cross section and adapted to hold a table in cooperative relationship to the first mentioned roll, and a table adapted to be supported by said second roll, said table having a working portion which cooperates with said working section, said working portion tapering longitudinally in respect to the supporting portion of the table.

3. In a device for rolling switch points from T-rails, a compression roll having a circular cross section through the working section, a lower supporting roll having a flange thereon of circular cross section forming a resisting member, atable havingasupporting portion cooperating with said flange and also having a working face, a portion of said working face being inclined in a longitudinal direction to the supporting portion of the table, and a lateral roll adapted to cooperate with said upper roll and said table to shape the article to be rolled.

WVILLIAM D. EYN ON.

WVitnesses ROBERT M. BARR, C. D. MoVAY. 

